US Department of Education – Loan Forgiveness

You may qualify for a grant while you are in school, or you may qualify for loan forgiveness while teaching depending upon the type of student loan you have. Because each federal student loan has very specific requirements and specifications, it is helpful to know the type of loan you received before visiting websites or talking to customer service representatives. If you are unsure about the type of loan you have, contact either the financial aid office of the university/college you attended or the loan guarantor that holds your loan to assist you. The USDE offers grants to students and loan forgiveness to those who teach full-time in a low-income school or in a content shortage area.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Perkins Loans
If you have a loan from the Federal Perkins Loan Program, you might be eligible for loan forgiveness for full-time teaching at a low-income school or in a content shortage area, in grades Kindergarten through 12. Check with the school that made your Perkins Loan or visit the USDE Student Aid Information Center web site for more information.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Stafford Loans
If you received a Stafford loan on or after October 1, 1998, and did not have an existing student loan, you might be eligible to have a portion of your loan cancelled. Teacher loan forgiveness for Stafford loans is available to qualifying borrowers who teach in designated low-income schools in grades Kindergarten through 12. Teaching in a content shortage area is not considered for forgiveness of a Stafford loan. The National Student Loan Program (NSLP) and the USDE Student Aid Information Center are available to assist with questions about loan forgiveness for Stafford loans.

Search for Low-Income Schools
To be considered a “low-income school,” the school must be in a school district that qualified for federal funds in the year for which the cancellation is sought. Also, more than 30 percent of the school’s enrollment must be made up of children from low-income families.

A listing of designated low-income schools is available from the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory on the USDE web site. If you have questions regarding the list of schools, please contact the Title I Office of the Nebraska Department of Education at 402-471-2481.

Search for Teacher Shortage Areas
If you teach full time in science, mathematics, foreign language, or bilingual education, you qualify for loan forgiveness even if the subject area has not been designated as a shortage area. A listing of designated teacher shortage areas from 1990-2014 is available from the Teacher Shortage Areas Nationwide Listing on the USDE web site.

Teach Grant
For qualifying students who intend to teach in a school that serves low-income families. Visit the Teach Grant Web Site.

Early Childhood Educator Loan ForgivenessThe Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer.

Enhancing Excellence in Teaching Program

Applications for the 2019-20 award year (for classes BEGINNING July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020) will be available here on April 1, 2019.

Process for the EETP Awards

EETP application for 2018-19 is now closed.

Applicants send the required paperwork directly to the institution they will attend.

The institutions send all applications to NDE by June 1.

NDE will process the applications and notify all applicants by email with either the contract for recipients to sign, or an explanation of why the applicant did not receive the award. All applicants will be informed of their status by July 10.

Excellence in Teaching Act Forgivable Loans

On April 22, 2009, the Excellence in Teaching Act (§§ 79-8,132−79-8,140 R.R.S.) was signed by Governor Heineman revising the existing Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program (for individuals seeking their initial teaching certificate in Nebraska) and authorizing the Enhancing Excellence in Teaching Program (for Nebraska teachers enrolled in a graduate program in Nebraska). Funding is provided by the Excellence in Teaching Cash Fund using a portion of the State Lottery Operation Trust Fund dollars.

Related Information

Additional information about the EETP is available from the documents listed below or by contacting Karen.Buller@nebraska.gov or at 402-471-4837

The information presented in the following documents is valid BEGINNING in the 2018-19 award year.

Eligible students may apply, on an annual basis, for an EETP loan in an amount of up to $175 per credit hour, or a maximum of $3,000, for coursework that has been identified by the institution as part of the student’s graduate program. In return for receiving an EETP loan, the student agrees to complete the graduate program that s/he is currently enrolled in and maintain full-time employment in an accredited or approved public or private school in Nebraska. If the student meets the loan forgiveness obligations, beginning after the first two years of full-time teaching, loans will be forgiven pursuant to the individuals’ signed contract.

Rule 24 Endorsement Status

The table below lists the endorsements available for Nebraska certificates. Endorsements move through Ad Hoc Committee for revision, are proposed to NCTE for 1st and 2nd Hearing, and return to NCTE for Final Presentation. Once passed by NCTE the next steps are legal review, State Board of Education (SBOE) approval for public hearing, public hearing, SBOE approval, attorney general and governor signatures.

It is the policy of the Nebraska Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, age or national origin in its educational programs, admission policies, employment, or other agency programs.